I’ve wanted to look for Amethyst near Thunder Bay, Canada, for about 15 years. Not quite a “bucket list” item, but definitely something that’s lingered in the back of my mind—something I heard about once and have been intrigued with ever since.
This June, my son John and I finally made the trip. He had just returned from an extended adventure in Europe, and we decided to head north together.
I stayed at his home in Duluth the night before. The amethyst mine we were visiting was more than four hours away, and we planned to make it a one-day trip.
We left Duluth around 6:10 a.m., coffee in hand, and headed up the North Shore of Lake Superior toward Canada. Along the way, we passed through small towns, endless trees, and caught stunning glimpses of Lake Superior and all its natural wonders.
The best part of it all? Time with my kiddo.
Before leaving Minnesota, we stopped at the Susie Islands overlook, where we stood 400 feet above the world’s greatest lake—Superior (my humble opinion). It never disappoints.
As we entered Canada we admired lush shades of green from evergreens and hardwoods, with rocky hills and cliffs lining the lake.
Eventually, we made it to the mine.
They dig up the rock for you, and visitors get to pick through it to find their treasures. So it felt more like rock picking than actual mining—but it was still fun. We found plenty of amethyst to bring home.
Before we left, we made a pact: someday, we’ll return and try our luck finding amethyst out in the wild, beyond the borders of the family-owned mine. Who knows—maybe we’ll get lucky!
On the way back to Duluth, we stopped at High Falls on the Pigeon River. Though it hasn’t been officially measured, it’s estimated to be between 100 and 130 feet tall—and it was absolutely spectacular.
After leaving the falls, we grabbed some gas and a snack. It was a wonderful day of rock hunting—but the real gem? Time spent with family and the incredible beauty of nature I was lucky enough to experience.
We made it to my son and daughter-in-law’s home just in time for John’s lovely wife (and my newest kiddo), Keelie, to serve us a fantastic curry dinner.
